Hello,
My family has been going to Leech Lake, Minnesota since the 30's. We have spent most of our time on the lake on the east side of the lake near Brevik. We have been fortunate so far we have had 4 generations of my family go up to Leech Lake.
My family has been going to Leech Lake, Minnesota since the 30's. We have spent most of our time on the lake on the east side of the lake near Brevik. We have been fortunate so far we have had 4 generations of my family go up to Leech Lake.
I have been collecting old maps, postcards, and check out many old resort postcards online.
It made me start wondering, who out there has stories, knows where the old resorts were located, what happened to them, anything that someone might want to share with me.
When I was a young kid in the 60's(a long time ago) there were many resorts on the east side near Brevik, Jensen's Cabins, Pikedale, Twin Port Resort, Bear Island View, Lein's, Sunset View Resort(maybe the best beach on the lake!) Carlson's Resort(this one was near my grandfather's cabin) Safe Harbor, Chippewa Lodge. I think that there are only 3 of these, Carlson's Resort, Chippewa and Pikedale, that are still operating as a resort.
I may have missed one or two, but those were the ones that were in my little corner of the lake.
I'm interested in hearing about other resorts that are gone, changed names, or are still operating with their old name, what happened to them, where they were located, anything that you want to share. I see such names as OB's camp, Point View Resort, Battle Point Lodge, Nelson's Long Bow Resort, and they are all gone. I remember when some of them closed down, but some were before my time.
I'm not just looking for stories from resorts in "My" corner of the lake, but anyplace on the lake. The south shore, Diamond Point, Walker area, Battle Point, Sugar point, up Onigum road, Federal Dam, anyplace on the lake! I love hearing people's stories. Even if they aren't about old resorts, just your time at Leech Lake.
Stories anyone?
It made me start wondering, who out there has stories, knows where the old resorts were located, what happened to them, anything that someone might want to share with me.
When I was a young kid in the 60's(a long time ago) there were many resorts on the east side near Brevik, Jensen's Cabins, Pikedale, Twin Port Resort, Bear Island View, Lein's, Sunset View Resort(maybe the best beach on the lake!) Carlson's Resort(this one was near my grandfather's cabin) Safe Harbor, Chippewa Lodge. I think that there are only 3 of these, Carlson's Resort, Chippewa and Pikedale, that are still operating as a resort.
I may have missed one or two, but those were the ones that were in my little corner of the lake.
I'm interested in hearing about other resorts that are gone, changed names, or are still operating with their old name, what happened to them, where they were located, anything that you want to share. I see such names as OB's camp, Point View Resort, Battle Point Lodge, Nelson's Long Bow Resort, and they are all gone. I remember when some of them closed down, but some were before my time.
I'm not just looking for stories from resorts in "My" corner of the lake, but anyplace on the lake. The south shore, Diamond Point, Walker area, Battle Point, Sugar point, up Onigum road, Federal Dam, anyplace on the lake! I love hearing people's stories. Even if they aren't about old resorts, just your time at Leech Lake.
Stories anyone?
Went to Safe Harbor Resort back in the late '70s and have always wondered what happened to the family that owned it at that time. Lived next to the owner's daughter and went with her, her husband and their daughter. Absolutely gorgeous up there.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I see I had a mistake in my reply. Safe Harbor was located on the north side of the harbor across from Chippewa Lodge, not the south side as I stated in my first reply below.
DeleteHi Wild Rose. I added a couple of pictures to my Safe Harbor Post. I hope you have time to come back to see them!
DeleteYes it is. Safe Harbor was originally part of Chippewa Lodge. It was owned by a Mr. Campbell and his wife. His son Bud Campbell ran/owned Chippewa Lodge from the 60's through the 90's.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere around WWII the elder Mr. Campbell sold the cabins on the south side of the harbor to another family and it became Safe Harbor. I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of the family that owned Safe Harbor. I did stay there once for a long weekend, but don't remember the family.
Sometime in the 80's(I think, it could have been the 90's), Bud Campbell bought back the cabins that were Safe Harbor and they became a part of Chippewa Lodge again. Chippewa Lodge is now owned by the Anderson Resorts.
I have many fond memories of Chippewa Lodge and of course the Brevik area. My dad was good friends with Bud Campbell and his mom and dad. My Grandpa always stored his boat at Chippewa Lodge in the winter.
Is this blog still active? I was at Leech Lake twice as a kid; 1st time 58 or 59, last time in 1962 when I was 15 1/2. I have some vivid memories of both trips that I would like to share if this blog is still active.
ReplyDeleteYes it is still active. Please feel free to comment anytime or anyplace you would like to on the blog. If there is a particular resort that you would like to talk about, or just talking about Leech Lake in general, please do so.
DeleteI started this blog as a way to let anyone that wanted to talk about their memories to post them.
If there is a particular resort that you would like to talk about, I'd be glad to put up a post about it and let you respond.
I am anxious to read your post!
I hope that you will be able to post soon! I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences at Leech Lake!
DeleteI hope that you have time to share your stories with us. If there is a particular resort that you would like to talk about or just talking about Leech Lake in general, please do so.
DeleteMy mother's family had ties to Sunset View Resort. Hal Berger was my mother's cousin's first husband. I have never been there, but am wondering what is on the property now so that when I do get the chance to visit I can walk the same earth they did "a few years back." Do you know?
ReplyDeleteHello Margaret,
DeleteWe still go up and rent cabins on what is still Carlson's resort, just to the south of Sunset View Resort. So we still have been up there for a long time. My Grandfather actually bought the land that he built his cabin on from Halvor and Francis Berger in the 40's. I assume that Francis was your mother's cousin. She married Ray Tabaka after Halvor died.
If you came there today, the beautiful beach is still there. Best beach on the lake without a doubt! The store that used to sit on top of the hill is gone. A few of the cabins that Halvor built are still there. It is now a condo association where there is common ground and the cabins are owned by individuals.
It still has the best view of the lake in my opinion. I'm sure you can go walk the same earth they did, I can't speak for the owners, but I'm sure no one would object, especially when they know who you are and why you are there. I don't think it would be a problem at all.
If you are going to be up there when I'm there, I would love to talk to you. I always loved Sunset View Resort. It is a big part of my memories up at Leech Lake. We did stay there a few times after my Grandfather sold his cabin. We now can rent my Grandfather's cabin as it is a part of Carlson's Resort!
Thank you so much for writing and viewing my blog. Please let me know when you are going to be up there and I'd love to hear your story about your visit.
Thanks so much for the quick response! Yes, Fran was my mother's cousin and I knew about Ray. I do not know that I ever met her, but older cousins remember her. I do not know when I will get there, but I'm kind of plotting a late September/early October road trip. I'll keep your message close and be in touch as my dreams become clearer. Thanks, again.
DeleteMy brother and I do have some stories from Sunset View and the area. Halvor died before I was born, but I got a lot of stories from my grandfather and my dad. My brother has a lot more. I look forward to hearing from you again.
DeleteHere is Fran's obituary from the local paper. http://pineconepresscitizen.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=540
DeleteWe just purchased what's left of the owners' home of Bear Island View
DeleteMy grandparents and great aunt and uncle owned Sunset View in the 50s and 60s. Spent most summers there while my parents helped out. I loved the store, helping behind the counter. Loved the harbor; is it still ther
DeleteHi gfox,
DeleteI remember the store when it was on the top of the hill. At some point in time it was changed to a cabin. I'm not sure if they just remodeled it or if something happened to it, but the old store is gone. I have a few memories from when I was a kid of going up the hill to the store and buying the candy.
The store was moved to a new building down to the beach near the harbor. The old "boat house" that was right down by the beach, burned down at some time.
The harbor is still there. It is no longer a resort, it is a condo situation where the cabins are privately owned and there is common area, the beach and the store that is down at the beach is a common area I believe.
The three cabins on the hill overlooking the harbor are gone. Some of the cabins were remodeled. I think that there are 3 of the original cabins that are in the original condition. The one that was at the bottom of the road right by the harbor is still there.
Best beach on the lake. Absolutely no doubt about it.
I'm assuming your family bought the resort from Frances Berger. Halvor Berger that built the resort, died in 1952.
Her is her obit from the Walker Independent. https://www.walkermn.com/obituaries/frances-marie-tabaka/article_a849e178-aefe-5155-8199-77d1e4ff868e.html
My grandpa bought a lot from Halvor and built a cabin up there in 1944. My grandpa's cabin was directly south of Carlson's resort. My brother worked at Carlson's resort for a couple of summers in the late 70's. My grandparents were good friends with August and Mettie Carlson and we all knew them of course.
When did your grandparents and your great Aunt and Uncle sell the Resort? Please feel free to email me directly at kbrown.cdbeab@gmail.com. I'd love to talk more with you about your time at the lake. I have a feeling we may have crossed paths at sometime up there!
My dad and grandpa told me a lot of stories about the early days up there. My grandparents actually stayed at Sunset View before they built their cabin. They started going up in the late 30's. I don't think I can attach a picture of this, but I have a picture of August Carlson in front of the old store that was up on the hill with a stringer of fish. He was a guide before he started the resort. He still guided after that too.
I hope you contact me. I'd love to find out more.
Was wondering how to get to the old sunset view resort.
ReplyDeleteFrom Walker, Mn you head east on Minnesota State Highway 200. You stay on 200 until you get to County Road 39 and turn left or head north on that. That is the only direction you can go on 39.
DeleteKeep going on 39 until you come to a large curve in the road keep going straight on the gravel road. That road is Lien's Lane. You will come to Carlson Ln that turns left or toward the lake. That will take you down to the south side of the resort. If you continue on Lien's Lane there will be an unnamed road on the left that will take you down the center of the resort.
Sunset View is no longer a resort. The cabins have been sold individually and it is operated as a condo type situation. I think most of the cabins that were there when the resort was sold are still there. Some of them have been remodeled or added on to.
Do you have a history at Sunset View? My grandpa's cabin was about 300 yards down the lake shore from Sunset View.
Hello...i grew up summers on leech lake..my mom and dad 25 yrs before me...a resort called loe's..owners name jim...wifes name can't think of..came up here every summer in aug..same two wks..same cabin...same resort...same place..spent days fishing with my dad..then as a family..swimming..playing..climbing rocks..the owners had two maybe three sons..david..was the youngest my age..we were best friends...ahh the memories...i just recently in the last 5 yrs..started coming back up here with my fiance..and desperately search to find the resort. We started staying at adventure north resort here in leech lake..love the resort..great owners..shay/Steve. Gracious hosts..since our last visit couple yrs ago..was able to find were the resort was..staight across the lake from adventure north..went across with a boat..found the resort and now what our homes...very found memories...love leech lake
ReplyDeleteJoanne..
You did find Loe's. I remember when they were selling the cabins off. It has been quite some time ago when that happened. They had a loon on the sign on the road that said Loe's. I remember that.
DeleteThey closed Trader's Bay Resort a couple of summers ago. It has been at least 2 years. We stayed at Trader's Bay once and loved it. Beautiful cabins and grounds. Sadly, the cabins have fallen into disrepair and been vandalized since the resort closed.
We spent our summers on the east side of the lake. We now stay at the old Ivanhoe's resort.
I hope you can make it back up to the lake again soon. It is hard to explain to people the ties and feelings that Leech Lake has on people. I love it there too!
Hope to hear again from you soon. I always love to hear people's memories.
As I read your response..its so awesome..glad to reconnect..it great to know that someone else knows what I'm talking about..as I write this we have been back up here in leech lake again..its been couple of days..great memories..being made again..since starting to come back up here again , in the last 5 yrs..i had not been here since I was a young teenager
DeleteJoanne
We kept going up after my grandpa sold his cabin on the east side of the lake. We now rent near Walker. We started bringing our own kids up to the lake and now that they are grown they share my love of the lake. We have shared memories with our kids as well as our own.
DeleteJim and Darlene Reese. Which two weeks in August? We always went for 2 in July and 2 in August all through the 80's and into the 90's.
DeleteWhen we were kids we went the last week in July and the first week in August. We were on the east side of the lake. Grandpa sold the cabin in 79 but we continued to go to various resorts on Leech.
DeleteFrom 1970 to around '84, my parents Don and Joan Medici owned Traders Bay Lodge. It was a great place to grow up. As a kid, I didn't realize how lucky we were, it's only as an adult that you know most kids DON'T grow up on a fishing resort!
DeleteThe resort is gone now and has been for a few years. All the cabins torn down. Many of them were pretty old when we bought, built in the 20s and 30s.
Everything changes but we're lucky enough to still have a home on the north end of the lake (Steamboat Bay) and have a couple of really nice resorts as neighbors. Anderson's Cove and Hiawatha Beach are still going strong!
Hello KMS! I can't believe that I didn't have a post for Traders Bay Lodge. I fish in front of the old resort all the time and stayed there once with my family at Christmas of 2001. I was sad to see it go. It got vandalized a lot after it closed and most everything is gone now.
DeleteI'd love to hear any stories that you have and feel free to post pictures you have if you like. If you are still on the lake, I'd love to meet up sometime and have a few beers and hear your stories of growing up on the lake. I'm jealous.
If you would like, you can put any further posts on the Traders Bay Lodge page. I would appreciate that. Here is the URL.
http://oldleechlakemnresorts.blogspot.com/2023/02/traders-bay-lodge.html
Glad you enjoyed your time up there and reconnecting. It's like Terrance Mann said in field of dreams, "It'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces." That is how I feel every time I go to the lake.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you stay when you went up?
Do you remember Leech Lake Lodge from the 70's? I was wondering if it is still operational. We used to stay at Forestview Lodge & Huddle's. One or two others that we only stayed at one year. My earliest Leech Lake memories are from when I was 4 or 5. We went every year until my Dad passed away in 2000. That was his happy place. My Aunt's, Uncle's & cousins sometimes stayed where we were but sometimes stayed at Leech Lake Lodge. Forestview was my favorite until it closed & then it was Huddle's. My brother - I were in a canoe at Forestview when he fell out of the canoe & lost his glasses. We kept diving down trying to find them but eventually we gave up. I was so happy when I found your blog.
ReplyDeleteHuddles is still operating. We eat there often when we are up there. Still a gem. Too many of the resorts are gone.
DeleteLeech Lake Lodge is not operating any longer.
DeleteForestview Lodge has been gone since 2003. Tore it down and made big lake homes on the property.
Huddles has been sold and is now Anderson's South Shore Resort. They have made many updates to the resort while keeping the charm of the old resort.
My family owned Birchwood Resort foe many years before they closes it. Any one ever stay there?
ReplyDeleteYes! My family and I stayed at Birchwood our first summer going up to Leech Lake.
DeleteWow. Tell me your memories!
DeleteIn the early 60's our family stayed at Twin Ports every summer. I remember it well. Loved that place. I remember the old Quonset style "cabin". One in front and one in back of the same structure.
ReplyDeleteCaught a 3 lb. Northern off the dock when I was too little to go out with everyone else in the boats - my fish was the catch of the day...
Sorry I didn't respond. The quonset style cabin in front is still there. It is a private area now, but you can see the bones of the old resort. And the big mail box by the road is still there and still say Twin Port resort.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandpa's cabin was down south of Sunset View about 3 or four lots.
Great stuff!!!!!!!
I stayed at stony point for most of my child hood days we would stay there at least twice a year.I took one of my kids there but I here its closed down now. The last owners were John an Betty Walter's such nice people!!!
ReplyDeleteStony point is such a beautiful area. The Forest Service lots are interesting. You can still see where Stony Point Resort and Doc’s Lodge were but you have to know where to look.
ReplyDeleteStill sad to see the resorts gone.
It has been 10 years since my family has been to Leech Lake. We have stayed at Sugar Point for 10+ years.
ReplyDeleteI remember and miss the restaurant at Federal Dam on the lake. Our family visited it at least 1998 and maybe 1999. Not sure what year it closed down and was leveled....
It has been sad to see resorts like Battle Point close down. We were sure pleased that Steve and Bunny found new owners for Sugar Point and are looking forward to meeting them on this years trip!
I recall staying in a motorhome with my aunt and uncle in the Brevik area in the mid 70s. They had camped in the yard of a friends cabin for many years.
I’m happy that you are going back after so many years. It’s always good to reconnect with great memories.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad too when the resorts close down. Twin Port has closed as well as Safe Harbor, Sunset View, Bear Island View, Liens, and North Star Resort, all on the east side. There are still
I hope you have a great week full of memories.
The new owners said they were working on getting the history info in order. At some point Sugar Point combined with Herman’s Resort.
Let me know how your week went! I’m really excited for you!
My father worked for his uncle (Roy Still) at the Lakeview Lodge or Resort back in the 1920’s. My grandmother, Esther Still Coppernoll died there. They had a launch called the Megawatt used to take guests out fishing. Apparently the lodge is gone now, burned. Anyone know anything more about it?
ReplyDeleteHi Tater! Thanks for your post! Do you still go to Leech? I'd love to hear any other stories you might know.
ReplyDeleteMy post for Lake View Lodge is at this page. https://oldleechlakemnresorts.blogspot.com/2021/
I got my info from Renae Geving. She is writing a book about the resorts of Leech Lake that should be coming out next year.
Check in with her.
The resort is gone now. The picture on the blog page is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good read. I am very familiar with the resorts mentioned. It’s very said to see, a change in the era so to speak. It started happening when I lived there. My folks owned Horseshoe Bay Resort for 35 years. What a wonderful childhood growing up meeting new people from all walks of life each week. I made so many friends... but they always left on Saturday. Resort life as a kid was a blast. Until you were old enough, or tall enough to push a vacuum. That was my job on turnover day. hhahaha!! I haven't looked or been for 12+ years. I heard it got run down, and not friendly to customers. Sad really, my parents put so much pride into that place over the years, and they loved to see our customers happy. They bought it with a campground and some cabins. The hotels, and banquet halls, restaurant, etc. It was all a vision in my dad’s mind and made it happen. I miss it, but just like everywhere else, things change. I miss leech, I hope to come visit someday, and do some fishing! Best spot was right off the main dock at horseshoe. Walley, perch, Pike, sunfish, and tons of bass!
ReplyDeleteOne more thought, I stayed at Spirit of the North(Smokey Point Lodge) for several years on our annual vacation when my kids were little. We fished Big Rock Reef and probably most of the places you fished when you were a kid growing up. We almost always had good luck with the walleyes on that reef.
DeleteHi AZCowgirl! Thank you for your kind words. I'm just an amateur blogger. I've been a teacher for 37 years and been a visitor to Leech Lake for my entire life.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how cool it would have been to grow up on a resort. I'm sure turnover day was crazy! Meeting all of those people must have been fun. And repeat visitors from year to year were fun to see each year. Did you ever have to be the dock girl and clean fish too?
I just put up a post on Horseshoe Bay Lodge. Give it a look. The resort really has been updated a lot in the past several years.
Their website is: https://www.horseshoebayresort.com/ Anderson Resorts have bought it. They also recently bought Huddles resort. They have really saved several resorts on the lake from becoming history.
I am leasing a cabin in the old Ivanhoe Resort on Walker Bay. I have been fortunate to spend so much time up at Leech Lake my whole life.
You would probably love coming back up again.
My email is kbrown.cdbeab@gmail.com if you want to swap more stories. I would love to hear more of yours. I wish I would have asked more questions of my grandpa and my dad, although I have a lot of stories from my dad!
If you ever come back to the lake I would to meet you!
Thanks again for your post.
Hi folks. I just got back home to Forest Lake from Leech Lake. Daughter has a cabin on Breezy Point and I was working in it. Neighbor told me about this so checking it out now. I see a post about Horseshoe Bay Resort. In 1973, my family and another moved all our belongings in U Haul trucks. Drove from Iowa to Horseshoe Bay Resort, which my folks and another family were at to purchase it. When we got there, the deal fell through. But we lucked out and they were able to buy Moores Lodge. This is where I spent high school years. I loved it!!! Made so many good friends over the summers. Great memories. And now my daughter has her own cabin, where my wife and I hope to visit often.
DeleteHello JC. Thanks for responding to my blog. I go by Breezy Point all the time on the lake. My daughter even named her dog Breezy. My dogs are named Brevik and Brindley. We have been going up to the lake all of our lives. We stay at South Walker Bay in the summer, they are leased by the season. It used to be Ivanhoe.
DeleteThat was a fantastic story about Horseshoe Bay Resort and Moore's Lodge. So your family and another family owned Moore's Lodge in the 70's? How long did you all own it? I always thought Moore's Lodge was such a nice well kept and obviously a really good spot on the lake.
When you come back up next summer, drop me a line. I would love to talk with you about your time at the lake and at Moore's Lodge. I was looking through my list and I can't believe that I never made a post for Moore's Lodge. I'll send you the link when I get it posted and I'll copy your post there. Feel free to go back there and post any stories to the Moore's Lodge and go back several times if you like.
Thanks for the post.
My folks and their partner family owned Moore's Lodge from 1973 to 1983 I think. They tried to sell it as a resort, but couldn't find a buyer. So they formed a "resortaminium" and sold each cabin off. And hired folks to manage it. Worked out good it appears. After that and until daughter got her cabin a few years ago, we would come up every July 4th week and stay at Brindley's. Kids and grandkids loved Brindley's! We'd rent a pontoon from Jim's in Hackensack...delivered and picked up. So nice. I heard Brindley's finally sold out to owner's of Acorn Hill. Another family run resort bites the dust. Sad.
DeleteAs a side note, I saw en earlier post, someone mentioned Adventure North. Three buddies of mine, we rented a huge cabin their every 2nd weekend after opener. We brought our daughters for 4 days and 1) spoiled em with steak and such, and 2) taught them how to fish. Since they were 14. Now they're 40ish. And very good fishermen! The young guys used to laugh when they saw all the blondies pull up to Pine Point. But not for long, as they outfitted many of the guys around us. I just laughed to myself as their boats started closing in on us, as the girls laughed and giggled every time they reeled in another walleye. Those were great times!!
Sorry...outfished
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response! Brindley's is still a resort. It's just owned by the same people that own Acorn Hill. It wasn't owned by the Brindley family at that point, so still family owned, the same family just owns both. Such good times at the lake. A good friend of mine knew Joe Brindley, who was the original owner. He was a cop in Des Moines and he took his pension and built the resort in the 50's I think. It is beautiful. I've stayed at Acorn Hill before after my grandpa's cabin was sold. But like I said my grandpa's cabin was on the east side. Near Carlson's Resort and Sunset View Resort. That was our area. I've been learning a lot about the west side of the lake, Walker Bay, Agency Bay, and Trader's Bay. I'm sure you know, but it was sad when Trader's Bay Lodge closed down. The cabins were vandalized and they finally tore them down. It is just a flat empty space now. The harbor is filled in and you can see some of the old docks still there. We stayed at Trader's Bay Lodge one winter at Christmas time. It was fun. A really nice resort. We lease a cabin at what used to be Ivanhoe's Resort. The old resort cabins are still there and some have been sold privately and some are lease cabins. I love staying there. They are small but well kept. I like that kind of stuff! So we aren't too far from Breezy Point. My email is kbrown.cdbeab@gmail.com. When you are up visiting your daughter if you would like to get together and swap stories about the lake, drop me a note and we can get together. I would like that. I've always tried to figure out exactly where Breezy Point Resort was. I have a guess, but I'm not sure. I hope we can talk next summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for contributing to my blog! This is the kind of stuff that I like to hear.
How amazing to come across this blog! My great aunt worked at a resort in the early 1940's, but I don't know which one. I believe she would have been there about 1943, possibly just for the summer. She got pregnant while there from "someone" but would never report who. She just stated that she could never share who it was. She died before we even knew that her oldest son did not have the same father as the others. I've always wanted to find out more about the resorts in Walker. We were told by her daughter that she worked in a "speakeasy" at the resort and possibly ran some gambling. I know many gangsters came thru the area and wonder if one of them could be the father even. If anyone has information on the resorts from that era, speakeasies, gangsters, I'd love to know more to help direct my research!
ReplyDeleteI've talked to a couple of people up at Walker, and I haven't been able to find out any resorts and the gambling that went on up there. I know there was a lot though! I'm not sure how much went on through the 40's. I know that a lot of the people from Chicago went to Federal Dam and that the trains stopped there. There used to be a lot of fishing launches that went out of there and there were cabins and a couple of hotels at Federal Dam. I'll keep checking around and get back to you if I find more information.
DeleteWe purchased one of the cabins that was located in diamond point resort. When did this resort go out of business?
ReplyDeleteI'm not positive. I'm going to guess in the 70's sometime. I'm not positive. They had a 7 digit phone number and those changed in the 60's. I'm going to check in the Resorts of Leech Lake book as soon as I get my copy in the mail from the Cass County Museum. When did you buy the cabin?
DeleteI did find some information about Diamond Point Resort from a book about resorts of Leech Lake.
DeleteIt was originally called Fairbanks Resort and then Diamond Point Resort. It was located on Diamond Point and wa built in the 1920's. Jacob and Mathilda Fairbanks and her husband Charles C. lived at the resort for 16 years while it was being run by her son Charles M "Chuck" and Ruth Fairbanks. There were modern cabins that were spaced for privacy. The resort was sold into private ownership in the 1960's.
I hope that helps what you wanted to know.
Please let me know if you got this message!
Thanks for looking at my blog. The book "Resorts of Leech Lake" by Cecelia McKeig and Renee Geiving is available for sale at the Cass County Museum in Walker MN if you are interested in a copy. It is very interesting and a good read!
It appears that it was sold into private ownership int he 1960's. it was originally called Fairbanks Resort and was built in the 1920s. It doesn't say when it switched the name to Diamond Point Resort. I hope that helps.
DeleteI am happy to have found this blog and am hopeful that you might be able to help me. My grandparents owned a resort in the 50s and 60s called Pinestead resort. It was located in the area of Walker Minnesota and was located on May Lake area. My siblings and I are trying to find out where the property was located because we'd like to drive up and visit the area. Our parents used to take us up there every year for a vacation when our grandparents owned it. We have such great memories of our family vacations there. Unfortunately I'm not finding resort called Pinestead as I believe either the name has changed or is no longer in business. Would you be able to help us out? I have looked under a site listing all of the old resorts of Minnesota but did not have any luck. Thank you for any help you can give us!
ReplyDeleteI put up a post about Pinestead Resort on the blog. You can look on the blog main page and it should be under 2024. Please let me know if you got this post ok. You can reply on here or send it directly to my email. kbrown.cdbeab@gmail.com
DeleteSounds like you really had a great time at the lake! If you want to share more stories about the lake, don't hesitate to let me know.
https://oldleechlakemnresorts.blogspot.com/2011/12/resorts-that-have-come-and-gone-on.html
DeleteIf this helps at all, my grandparents names were Raymond and Alice Rasmussen
ReplyDeleteHello Radean. Did you get the new post on Pinestead Resort that I put up? I also sent you another
DeleteHello! Yes, I did get the new post on Pinestead Resort. Thank you for finding this information for us. I appreciate the bit of background you uncovered, like the number of cabins and a picture postcard! The second attachment/map does confirm the area where I believed the resort used to be located but it appears that the property divided up and now has private residences. I've printed out the information you provided and will pass it along to my sisters and brother.
DeleteSorry for the delay in responding; I've been out all day and are just now catching up on my messages.
Thank you again for your help and information you were able to uncover for us! I do find it interesting in looking over others' posts and hearing about the wonderful memories people have of their time up at the lakes!
PS...I've got a number of photo slides my grandparents took of the resort and lake and will try to match up the scenery to the pictures on the postcard!
DeleteI'd love to see the photos
DeleteThank you for your reply. I'm not sure this platform allows you to post pictures. If you have some pictures that you would like me to post, send it to my email kbrown.cdbeab@gmail.com I'll be happy to post them to share. Are you and your siblings going to make the trip up this summer?
ReplyDeleteOK. When I come across those pictures, I'll keep in mind to send them to you. Not sure yet when we'll be up as a brother and sister have some health issues that we will have to schedule around, but we are going to possibly try for late summer or early fall.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually up there from June to early August and then again in September. I lease a cabin in what used to be Ivanhoe Resort. They call it South Walker Bay now. I wouldn't mind having a chat and hearing your stories. My grandpa owned a cabin in the east side of the lake near Brevik. I was lucky he owned it. Got to spend a lot of time up there during my youth!
DeleteI'll definitely keep that in mind when we discuss some dates to go up. I know we'd like to get up there before October so that timeframe would work ou!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Bay Shore Resort at Sucker Bay? Any resorts around this area? The perch fishing was awesome back in the day.
ReplyDeleteI like your name LeeckLaker23! I have emailed a resort owner that is on Sucker Bay for some more information.
DeleteThe limited information I have on Bay Shore Resort is that Jim Lestinawas the owner of Bay Sore Resort from 1957 to 1967. For a period of time in the 70's Kurt , George, Lois, and Sheryle, Thiemecke and family ran the resorst until 79 I believe. Richard and Betty Reese owned the resort from 1979 to 1998. It appears that it closed at that time.
I can tell you that in that immediate area of Sucker Bay, Birch Ridge Resort is still there. It is owned by the second generation of the Tiggemans. Owned it since 1971. I emailed them and I'm waiting to hear more from them.
Thanks for contacting me. What years did you go up to Bay Shore? Any stories that you had to share from your time up there would be appreciated!
Kurt Brown
Interesting read and brought back a lot of memories. I cant remember exactly when we started visiting Leech Lake, but it was always something we looked forward to. Im guessing it was in the 50’s, but i know my father visited there from Laurel, Iowa when he was a boy.
ReplyDeleteOur family trips were based around school vacations and getting the crops out and always between the Marshall County Fair and the Iowa State Fair.
My earliest memories was at Long Bow and then Hiawatha just north of Walker and my brother and i enjoying a huge double tree swing. The lodge there was lovely. When Joe Brindley retired from the Des Moines police Department and he and his wife established Brindley’s, we went there for a number of years. After Joe passed it changed hands to a family from Oklahoma and it just wasn't the same. We found CB ourselves at Big Rock and Chippewa and back for a number of years to Big Rock.
I wanted to add a couple comments. I remember riding in the mail plane one summer with my dad and that was my first plane ride. Always great fishing in front of Brindleys. One of the last times we stayed at Big Rock i was just off knee replacement surgery snd pretty much using a wheelchair and i reached out to the managers at Bug Rock to ask about access to the lodge. By the time we arrived they’d added a beautiful handicap ramp so that I could get into the lodge!!!! I was simply overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff!!!!! I grew up in Story County!! Went to NESCO. I assume you want to LDF schools? I've been to Brindleys, not to stay but visited a friend that stayed there. His dad was friends with Joe Brindley and they stayed there while Joe owned it. They had the same feeling about the owners after Joe. Did you know Joe prior to going to the resort?
DeleteI stayed at Chippewa a couple of times. My grandpa had a cabin that was a little north on the shoreline from Chippewa. We were next door to Carlson's resort and close to Sunset View Resort. I got to spend at least 2 weeks up there every year.
That's a good story about Big Rock. Very kind of them. I hope your knee healed up well.
How long has it been since you were up there? We are leasing a cabin at what used to be Ivanhoe Resort. Not where I grew up on the lake, but I love it!
Hello there. I found your fascinating blog by accident when researching Leech Lake history for a story I'm writing which centers around Smokey Point Lodge and its founder, Arthur "Smokey" Dallaire. My grandparents built a cabin near Smokey Point in the 30s but sold it during WW2 (unfortunately.) My family of 8 went to Smokey Point every summer from the 50s until the early 60s, when my parents decided to rent a houseboat from Harold Fisher for vacations instead. For a few summers we spent 2 weeks touring the whole lake and visiting nearly every resort, where we refilled the water tank, the gas tank and bought food. The 2 summer weeks at Leech during those years were the best of my life, as I reflect now, in my old age.
ReplyDeleteI particularly remember the gigantic and gorgeous lodge at Smokey Point. There was a piano, a pingpong table and lots of tables and chairs to read in along the wall of windows which faced the lake. Then there was the long, bumpy dirt road we walked to get to the Whittle Shop and Viola's Fudge Shop... sodas at the drug store in town, prize fish in Reed's window, hamburgers at Sleepy Hollow... I found some photos in the book about the old resorts of Leech Lake which I bought at the Museum there this summer. The archivist found me quite a bit of information about Mr Dallaire as well.
I don't go to Walker for vacations anymore because the resorts are gone and the condos have taken over (and the Anderson Dynasty has replaced the lovely old cabins with ugly modern ones) but it was good to revisit the museum, which was much as I remembered it from circa 1960. Thanks for your blog!